Notorious matte or glossy discussion!! Need HELP!!

OK, am buying mbp today and i cant decide on glossy or matte. I have read every forum on it that i could find. So, i need someone that has experience with both of them outside and inside. It would be great if u could help. Also, if this would help u. I am college student and i would use it in the class room, home, and outside sometimes.

 

Get the glossy. Everything looks a little washed out on the matte when compared with the glossy. I've been using glossy for 3 years now i won't go back to matte.

I am a college student too.

 

If you have read every forum on this topic you would know the general consensus around here is that this decision is for you alone to make. So my advice for you is to go to an Apple Store and evaluate the differences for yourself .

 

Get the glossy you won't regret it.

 

I don't know, from the comparisons I've done between the current LED-backlit models, the issue of the matte screen being more "washed out" seems to have largely gone away. If you have an Apple Store near you, you can see this for yourself - the matte screens they are using are really quite good, and have deep blacks and still very vibrant colors.

The knock on matte screens has usually been that things look washed out, etc. but I think enough improvements have been made that it isn't such a concern.

The big issue with the glossy screens will normally be glare and reflections, but it depends on where you'll be using it - if you're going to be using it in a lot of environments with bright overhead fluorescent lamps, etc. it would be more of an issue.

For what it's worth though, the glossy screens on the MBP's aren't quite as reflective as some glossy screens though, so it isn't so serious even in those conditions.

Frankly though, you can't really go wrong either way. Both screens are quite good and usable in a variety of conditions; I think it ultimately comes down to a matter of personal preference, whether you like the glossy look or the matte look.

-Zadillo

 

Go to the Apple Store and decide for yourself...

You will not find the answer here anyway.

 

Wow, another one of these threads. If you just search you'll find gobs of discussions about this. It's all personal preference. Believing the matte is washed out is personal preference. Believing the Glossy is over saturated is ALSO personal preference.

to quote Hollownail from a previous thread, which I agree with, though I use Matte as my choice

 

While I can't pick for you, I'll share my experience. I have a matte widescreen desktop (Dell) and the glossy MPB. I use both in the same room. Neither is "easier" to see, but the glossy is much better to look at. The colors are more vivid, and it's just better (IMHO). The room has flourecent lighting, and large windows, neither of which have detracted from the glossy screen. I, too, was dubious about the possibility of glare, but am very pleased with what I got.

 

While I won't say glossy is better or worse, I will say that I have had no issues with my mb glossy screen, its a pleasure to use in any environment.
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Just one more point from me. The MacBook glossy display is different than the MacBook Pro glossy display which are both unlike the aluminum iMac glossy display. So even within the same company, Apple, there are really three different glossy displays.

 

The only reason I don't go to a apple store, because I live like hour an a half away and i don't want to drive that far lol. Here another question; I have dell dimension 8300 desktop and i have basic moniter that came with it. I have glare on this moniter, would u think it would be worse or better then glossy screen mbp if u compared the two. Because its better then am definitely getting glossy.

 

You have a CRT, or flatscreen lcd with a glossy screen? The CRT right? glass is rather glossy. The MBP is reflective, but nicer than "most" reflective screens. If the ambient lighting in your room is brighter than the screen.. you will see a reflection.. if even the smallest reflections bother and distract you.. get Matte. If you can deal with it, get glossy.

Just to relay my reason for buying a matte: Reflections bother me. I wear glasses and require the "anti-reflective" coating because with out it I can litterally see my eyes. creepy. I spent a lot of time staring at the MBP screens and still almost chose glossy because I was second guessing too much. They're both nice screens. But I'm glad I chose matte. From my observations the color saturation, and black to white contrast are stronger on the glossy, but I found the reflections in the whites and blacks too distracting. I'll readily admit I'm picky about reflections. Good luck with your choice

 

candied apple...meaning? did u paint it red?

 

I do have crt moniter. I have ceiling light in middle of my room and if i move it up I can see the ceiling light pretty clear. I also wear glasses but i have never had vast amount light going directly into my computer, so i havent ever really notice my ceil light unless bend down a bit. See this my first laptop, so i just dont know what to choose lol.

 

As others said, there is no "better" screen, mostly. It will depend on yourself. Some hate the glossy reflections, others barely notice it. Some love the way glossy screens display colours, others hate it. It will all come down to you.

 

I mean i wish i could go down to the apple store to compare screens, but its to fare away. I really want order it tonight, do u guys know any sites that have pics of them both?

 

Hah, you're complaining! We don't have a single Apple Store in Vancouver! If we want to get to one, we either fly to Toronto or cross the border to Seattle. It sucks, haha.

Pictures won't really show the difference between glossy and matte much. It really is a "gotta be there to see it" type of thing.

 

My suggestion is that matte is the safer choice if you can't compare the two in person. You'll never miss the glossy if you've never seen it; but you might miss the matte if you don't like the reflectiveness of the glossy. Does that make sense? My wife has the matte MBP and my kids have the glossy new iMac. Both look great.

 

I think you have 14 days to exchange if you're not satisfied. someone correct me if i'm wrong

Also: Someone did a side by side photo comparison here at NBR.. glossy vs matte 15".
I can't find it at the moment. It was very subjective if you were trying to compare screen color/saturation/angle fade etc, because camaras never capture this the way our eyes see it. It's greatest success was simply showing the difference in reflectivity. Even the Matte is slightly reflective in the right light conditions at ~6 inches, which is basically your hands and the keyboard. For the most part Matte diffuses any reflection. Bright light (the sun) can still wash the screen out, just the Glossy can be rendered useless from reflection.

 

You have 14 days to exchange it, but you'll pay a 10% restocking fee unless the unit is defective.

 

Actually I have a Red Speck Case, and it simulates that candy coating on Candied Apples. Or..that's my thought on the subject anyways.

 

Technically yes, only if there's something wrong with the MBP can you get a refund or exchange without restocking, but the Apple Store employees are usually pretty lenient...if you got a matte MBP, and realized matte wasn't for you, and stated you weren't satisfied, they probably would let you go anyways.

However, yes, normally only if there's something wrong can you get a free refund/exchange in 14 days.

 

Heh, the horror stories about the poor service of the Apple stores in Canada are legendary

 

I blame the Torontonians for that . And Montrealers .

Us Vancouverites are nice and friendly .

 

OK, I get what ur saying. Like matte is travel and glossy more for home use. Because i well be taking mbp to class , outside and chill with friends, and home.

 

Well, once again, the most important thing is your personal preference. For those tasks, I'd say glossy and matte are both fine, providing you don't personally find the reflections annoying.

But I agree, if you absolutely cannot choose, "you can't go wrong" with matte. You may hate a glossy screen's reflections, but you most likely won't hate the matte screen's lack of reflections .

 

well
when my brother bought his mbp this july, we asked the sales to show us both of the displays. And what we noticed was that the only difference between matte and glossy is that matte doesn't reflect while the glossy reflects like hell. So it was a no brainer for us.

 

Ok , I want to say thnks for everyone's replies and that they very helpful. It help to make my choice and i ordered a matte screen, so i hope am going to be happy with it lol.

 

OH NO! BIG MISTAKE!

Just joking, you really can't go wrong either way in my opinion. Peace.

 

You're trying to drive them paranoid, aren't you, Xander?

 

take a pic, i wanna see the candy apple you play with.

 

simple answer, do reflections piss you off?

if you answered yes get the matte,

if you answered no get the glossy.

 

I just got my matte macbook pro today. It's sitting next to (literally) my hp's glossy screen. They're both great, but i'm digging the mac's lack of reflections.

 

Am j/w if u get free printer if use the student discount?